Will the Celtics and Lakers meet in the finals?

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 15/05/2008

 It’s hard to believe it’s been over 20 years now since the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics last met in the NBA Finals, the days of Larry Bird, Robert Parrish and Kevin McHale battling Kareem Abdul Jabbar, James Worthy and Magic Johnson. These two great franchises have not met in the finals since 1987.

 The Celtics have won the most NBA titles all-time with 16; the Lakers are number two all-time with 14. Remember, five of those Lakers titles were won when the franchise played in Minneapolis with the NBA’s first great big man, George Mikan.

 It’s been a long time, but that can change. Both teams are seeded number one in their respective conferences. The Lakers (57-25) are led by league MVP Kobe Bryant and legendary coach Phil Jackson, who has won nine NBA titles as head coach of the Chicago Bulls (six) and Lakers (three).

Jackson needs one more championship to break a tie he has with Boston’s legendary Red Aurbach at nine titles each. Jackson has won 185 playoff games, the most all-time, but right now he has his hands full with Utah.

 The Jazz have evened their Western Conference semi-final series with the Lakers at 2-2, and the Celtics hold a 2-1 Eastern Conference semi-final series lead against Cleveland and NBA scoring leader LeBron James. However, the Celtics have not yet won a road playoff game (0-4) with game four in Cleveland Monday, May 12. And that concerns many, because in the regular season they led the NBA in road wins.

 Remember, Cleveland is battle tested and reached the NBA Finals last year before being swept by the World Champion San Antonio Spurs. The playoff picture is still not clear yet with the defending champion Spurs still very much alive and all square at 2-2 with upstart New Orleans and the sensational Chris Paul.

 In the East, the Detroit Pistons coached by Flip Saunders hold a 3-1 lead on the Orlando Magic in the other Eastern Conference semi-finals. So, it’s possible that the Lakers and Celtics could meet in the NBA Finals — but how likely is it?

 It’s been a long dry spell for the Celtics; just making the playoffs has been a challenge the last 10 years. But, with former Timberwolves star and NBA Defensive Player of the Year Kevin Garnett and teammates Ray Allen and Paul Pierce — three All-Stars — much is expected.

 The Celtics had the NBA’s best regular season record, 66-16, and won by an average margin of 11 points a game. All eight of these teams are capable of reaching the finals, but the NBA would love to see Los Angeles and Boston, two old rivals and big TV-market teams, in the NBA Finals.

 Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, and biweekly he commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). He welcomes reader responses to lfitzgerald@spokesman-re corder.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.